R.I.P.: Ed Schumacher, WTUZ New Philadelphia, OH

Ed Shumacher

Ed Schumacher was all the things that you don’t think of in a radio personality — but he was everything that one expects from a community leader. The owner of WTUZ 99.9 FM in New Philadelphia died of cancer Wednesday at age 60.

“Ed was very humble; he preferred to be behind the scenes — which is strange for someone in show business — and was much more comfortable letting others take credit for what he did,” Carey Gardner, a former co-worker at WJER Radio in Dover told the times-reporter.com.

Although those who knew him said unanimously he did his best to escape the spotlight, Gardner fondly recalls once when he couldn’t. The Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce honored WTUZ as its 2006 Small Business of the Year.

“He had to be there to accept the award, but he had his mother and all of his employees there,” he said. “I know he was very proud of that. It was recognition from his business peers and an affirmation that he’d made it. He had to be there and accept the applause and the spotlight. I had a lot of fun just watching him.”

Schumacher also was president and general manager, and the full-time staff at WTUZ grew from five originally to 19 in 2006.  WTUZ also received the prestigious 2009 National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award for community service.

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